🇺🇸 United States → 🇫🇷 France
Compliance path
US shipments enter the EU customs territory via France with French import VAT (TVA, 20% standard rate) and EU customs duty charged at clearance. Personal-import de minimis is €150 for duty (€0 for VAT under EU IOSS rules; sub-€150 ecommerce shipments must charge VAT at point of sale via the seller's IOSS registration). Major US-France retail lanes are pharmaceuticals, aerospace components, and electronics. Typical USPS / DHL parcel transit is 4-7 business days; customs holds add 1-3 days for inspection.
Commonly shipped items on this lane
1. Can I bring goods from United States to France?
Travellers entering France from United States are subject to France's personal allowances and declaration rules. The Direction générale des douanes et droits indirects (DGDDI — French Customs) sets allowances for alcohol, tobacco, and personal goods. Anything above the allowance must be declared at the red channel.
- Alcohol allowance: 4 L
- Cigarette allowance: 200
- Personal-goods allowance: ~USD 540
- Cash declaration threshold: USD 11000
2. Can I post goods from United States to France?
Parcels move through France's postal-customs flow. Typical transit time on this lane is 7 days. Every international parcel needs a CN22 (under ~USD 300) or CN23 (above) customs declaration. Use accurate descriptions and HS codes — vague labels are the single biggest cause of postal customs holds.
La Poste and customs handle international postal clearance. VAT applies on all low-value goods as of July 2021. Items above €150 require full customs import procedures and payment of duty.
3. Can I import commercially from United States to France?
Yes. Commercial importers into France need an importer of record, a customs declaration filed with Direction générale des douanes et droits indirects (DGDDI — French Customs), a commercial invoice, a packing list, and goods classified to the appropriate HS code. Some categories (food, plants, animals, medicines, electronics, chemicals, weapons, art) require additional permits or certificates.
4. Duties, VAT/GST and de minimis
No FTA is in force on this lane, so MFN tariff rates apply. France levies 20% VAT/GST on commercial imports. Postal / courier de minimis: €150 EUR.
Same EU rules: €22 VAT exemption removed as of 1 July 2021. Customs duty de minimis €150. IOSS (Import One-Stop Shop) allows overseas sellers to collect VAT at point of sale and remit to tax authorities.
5. FTA + rules of origin
No FTA is in force on this lane. MFN tariff applies; check Direction générale des douanes et droits indirects (DGDDI — French Customs)'s tariff tool for line-level rates.
6. Documents you may need
- Commercial invoice (every commercial shipment).
- Packing list.
- Transport document — air waybill (AWB) or bill of lading (B/L).
- Customs declaration (filed by importer of record or broker).
- Sector permits where applicable: phytosanitary, veterinary, medicines, telecom, weapons, art.
- Importer EORI / tax-ID where required by France.
7. Common problems on this route
- Undervaluation flagged at clearance, leading to revaluation and back-duty.
- Incorrect HS classification — duty rate moves up an entire tariff line.
- Missing origin documentation: FTA preference lost, MFN duty assessed.
- Vague descriptions on CN22 / CN23: parcel held pending clarification.
- Sanctions / dual-use screening for sensitive commodities.
- Biosecurity holds on food, plant, animal and wood-packaging items.
- Lithium-battery air-cargo refusal for non-compliant packaging.
8. High-risk item categories
No prohibited or restricted items flagged in the top-items list for this lane. Still verify any sensitive cargo against the official customs authority.
Generally restricted categories into France:
- Firearms and weapons (strict licence requirements under French law)
- Counterfeit luxury goods (France is a major enforcer due to luxury goods industry)
- Plants and plant products from outside EU
- Food and agricultural products from outside EU
- Medicines (Agence Nationale de Sécurité du Médicament — ANSM authorisation)
- Endangered species (CITES permit)
9. Official sources
- Direction générale des douanes et droits indirects (DGDDI — French Customs) — destination customs authority.
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) — origin customs authority.
- France country profile — full source panel and rule index.
10. Related tools
Frequently asked questions
Can I bring goods from United States to France as a traveller?
Yes. Travellers from United States entering France are subject to France's personal allowances and declaration rules. Alcohol allowance: 4 L. Cigarette allowance: 200. Personal goods allowance: ~USD 540. Declare anything above these limits at the red channel.
Can I send a parcel from United States to France?
Yes — parcels move through France's postal-customs flow. Typical transit: 7 days. De minimis: €150 EUR. Always attach a CN22 or CN23 declaration with accurate description, value, and HS code.
Can I import commercially from United States to France?
Yes. Commercial imports into France require an importer of record, customs declaration via Direction générale des douanes et droits indirects (DGDDI — French Customs), commercial invoice, packing list, and HS-classified goods. MFN duty applies; check the destination's tariff tool for the applicable rate.
What duties and taxes apply on this lane?
Non-FTA lane: MFN tariff applies. France levies 20% VAT/GST on commercial imports. De minimis below €150 EUR.
Do I need a Certificate of Origin?
No agreement is in force on this lane, so a Certificate of Origin is not required for preferential duty. It is still useful for valuation and product-compliance purposes.
What is France's cash declaration threshold for travellers?
Travellers entering France must declare cash and equivalent bearer instruments above USD 11000.
What documents should I prepare?
Minimum: commercial invoice, packing list, transport document (AWB or B/L), and customs declaration. Add a Certificate of Origin if claiming FTA preference. Sensitive categories (food, plants, animals, medicines, electronics, dangerous goods) need sector-specific permits or certificates.
What can go wrong on this lane?
Common problems: undervaluation flagged at clearance, incorrect HS code triggering a higher duty, missing origin documentation losing the FTA preference, parcel held for vague description on CN22/CN23, sanctions / dual-use screening on certain commodities, and biosecurity holds on food / plant / animal products.
Country profiles
Reference only — not legal or customs advice. Customs rules change frequently. Always verify against the destination's customs authority before acting on any rule on this page.